The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported nine wrecks between 7 am and 10 pm Thursday in Troop E, which covers Southeast Missouri. Four of the wrecks were in Butler County, with wrecks also reported in Dunklin, Wayne, Stoddard, and Bollinger counties.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Traveler’s Information map, there are still several partly covered roads across Southeast Missouri. Motorists are advised to watch for slick spots, especially on untreated and less traveled roads.

Also remember to slow down and leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you.

You can find the Traveler’s Information Map online at MoDot.org.

BODY FOUND IN DUNKLIN COUNTY LAKE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A MEMPHIS MAN
Updating a story we brought to you yesterday, authorities have released the identity of a body that was found Wednesday in a Southeast Missouri lake.

The body of 49 year old Antonio Owens, of Memphis, Tennessee, was discovered Wednesday in Combs Lake near Kennett.

Owens had been reported missing in early December.

His death is under investigation and an autopsy has been scheduled for this morning.

THREE ARRESTED AFTER METH, MARIJUANA, AND A FIREARM WERE FOUND IN A VEHICLE IN POPLAR BLUFF
A motor vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon led to the arrest of three people in Poplar Bluff.

Patrolman James Henry with the Poplar Bluff Police Department spoke with KWOC News about the incident.

JAMES HENRY:

On Wednesday afternoon about 2:30 p.m. I was flagged down at 9th Street and Lester Street in reference to a traffic accident. I made contact with the driver of one of the vehicles who advised me he was northbound on 9th Street when another vehicle ran a stop sign causing a motor vehicle accident. I then made contact with the driver of the other vehicle identified as 20 year old Jonathan Kuykendall from Doniphan who admitted to running the stop sign and striking the other vehicle. When I made contact with the passengers inside Jonathan Kuykendall’s vehicle I could smell an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The two passengers in the vehicle identified as twenty-six-year-old Barrett Kruse from Doniphan and 23 year old Heather Haley from Ellsinore. I informed the occupants of the vehicle that I could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and I asked if they had anything left in the vehicle. Heather Haley stated that they had smoked marijuana about an hour ago and she retrieved a Crown Royal bag from the vehicle containing a small glass pipe. I then asked the occupants if there's anything else in the vehicle and everyone in the vehicle denied there being anything else. Upon the arrival of an additional officer a search was conducted and a firearm was located which was a nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol which was fully loaded and also a sock hat was located in the vehicle which contained 34 $20 bills, 5 $10 bills, 20 $1 bills, a $50 bill. The money was all wadded up individually and consistent with possible drug transactions. I also located a small black box in the vehicle which contained a small bag of marijuana and a small bag of methamphetamine. I also located multiple items of drug paraphernalia in the box and multiple clear plastic bags and a digital scale. Jonathan Kuykendall, Barrett Kruse, and Heather Haley were all placed under arrest and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, and the driver Jonathan Kuykendall was also charged with DWI drugs and other traffic offenses.

Following the arrest, the three were processed at the Poplar Bluff Police Department.

MAN FOUND WITH CRYSTAL METHAMPHETAMINE DURING TRAFFIC STOP
A traffic stop led to the discovery of meth earlier this week in Northeast Arkansas.

Greene County Sheriff David Carter tells KWOC News that a deputy stopped a vehicle Tuesday night for expired tags.

While speaking to the driver, later identified as Anthony Eply, the deputy noticed something in Eply’s hand which turned out to be 1.7 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

Eply was taken into custody and transported to the Greene County Detention Center.

POPLAR BLUFF EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER ACCEPTING SCREENING APPOINTMENTS FOR HALF DAY PROGRAM
The Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center is accepting screening appointments for the Half Day program of the 2017-2018 school year.

If you are a parent in the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District and has a child who will be three or four years old on July 31st, you can call 573-785-6803 for more information about having your child screened for the program.

The next screening will be held by appointment only on Thursday, February 16th. Officials say that you must have your child’s social security number available when calling to make an appointment.